TUC chief Paul Novak told ministers to get serious about pay in 2025

As General Secretary of the TUC, Paul Novak sits at the top of an organization that represents five and a half million workers.

He has been critical of what he describes as the “chaos and decadence” of the Conservative years.

But he now wants to see Labour’s transformation promise at this year’s general election turned into “delivery” in 2025.

He says: “Families want to feel better and see material improvements in their daily lives.”

The first few months of the new year could be characterized by more battles over public sector pay.

Some of its member unions are raising the possibility of renewing the strike unless the government is willing to pump in more cash.

Ministers have. The proposed increase is 2.8%. – Just above the current inflation rate of 2.6% next year.

It’s a figure Novak doesn’t see as serious enough, or on the scale, to attract much-needed staff to public service.

His message to ministers is: “If you are serious about repairing and renewing our public services, you have to be serious about public service pay.

‘It is hard to see how a 2.8% increase solves the recruitment and retention crisis in the public sector, with 150,000 staff vacancies in the NHS alone.’

The government has said it is committed to rebuilding public services but that pay awards must be fair to both taxpayers and workers.

A government spokesman said: “As part of our transformation plan – which will rebuild our public services – we are focusing on ensuring that every part of government meets the priorities of working people. has been”.

He is asking the government to use a six-month long spending review. Currently ongoing Develop a long-term plan for financing public services.

In the near future, he hopes the government will go beyond the 2.8 percent figure.

It is possible that independent pay review bodies will recommend a top figure and the government has said it will consider their reports.

But the ministers have also said that more will have to be added. With productivity improvements.

The TUC leader is left scratching his head over how he will measure up in some public sector roles.

“No one knows what productivity means in a classroom, or an NHS trust, or a prison,” he says.

“We all want to deliver services more effectively but we cannot do this at the expense of the pay and conditions of staff on the frontline.”

He rejects claims by the Conservatives that this year’s inflation-adjusted pay rise was at the expense of pensioners who are missing out on winter fuel payments.

He believes that the government should have been able to advance the salary while providing protection to the pensioners.

“The TUC is very clear that the decision to withdraw the winter fuel allowance was a mistake.

“We absolutely want to see support – especially for pensioners [pension credit] Threshold.”

Paul Novak believes there can be too much of a “narrow focus” on pay – working conditions are also important. He warmly welcomed the Government’s Employment Rights Bill.

As someone who has worked on temporary contracts in the past, he welcomes any move towards more secure, less volatile employment.

As promised, the legislation was passed within 100 days of Labor taking power.

But much of this will be covered by subsequent, secondary legislation and is still subject to consultation.

Some employers are lobbying not only the business sector but also the Treasury, in the hope that a number of measures can be revised.

For example, they want ministers to extend the proposed nine-month probationary period for new hires, during which time it may be easier to fire them.

The TUC leader said: “That would be a real mistake. It’s really important that the Government delivers.

“It’s no surprise that parts of the business community are vocal about the potential negative impact on business.

“These are the same people who warned about introducing a national minimum wage 25 years ago.”

And he fired a warning shot to ministers: “It’s really important that the government sticks to its guns.”

But perhaps his most important message for the government is on its ambitious green agenda and its commitment – its plan for change is to meet 95% of energy needs by 2030 from “clean” sources such as renewables. .

He shares the goal but remains concerned about the consequences, with no detailed plan currently in place for those working in fossil fuel industries.

He told me: “All of our unions support the transition to net zero… but we have to do it in a way that helps workers at a faster pace.

It is not enough to say warm words about ‘just migration’ – we need concrete plans about job security, income security – entire towns and cities depend on the oil and gas industries.

“Not every green job is a good job.”

And he offered a warning from recent history: “We’ve seen what happens when you get industrial transitions wrong — the closing of mines, the steel industry.

“Towns and cities were destroyed for decades.”

Ministers insist the move to green power will attract more investment, support new skilled jobs, and “re-industrialise” parts of the UK.

Paul Novak has worked for the TUC for almost a quarter of a century, and was its Deputy General Secretary from 2016 until the start of 2023.

He told me that this Labor government had been – perhaps surprisingly – much more engaged than its predecessors.

The TUC will hope to influence ministers, but it is clear they will not always see eye to eye.